Grain-weighing apparatus



(No Model.) a Shets-Sheet 2.

M. P. T'HAYE'R;

GRAIN WEIGHING APPARATUS.

'Pate nted May 24, 1 887.

N. PETERS. Phmwljlh gmvhur, Wnahmg'iom D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheet-Sheet a. M. F. THAYER.

GRAIN WEIGHING APPARATUS;

Patented May 24,1887.

N. PETEns..Bhuwunw n um. Wnsllinglnn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON F. THAYER, OF ASHLAND OENTItEfMICHIGAN.

GRAIN-WEIGHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,436, dated May 24,1887.

Application filed June 19, 1886.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MYRON F. THAYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashland Centre, in the county of Newaygo and State ofMichigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grain-MeasuringApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grain-measuring apparatus; andit consists of the peculiar combination and novel construction andarrangement of the various parts for service, substantially ashereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed outin the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved grain-measuringapparatus which is adapted for use in connection withthrashing-machines, to receive the grain from the latter continuouslyand automatically discharge the said grain into either one or the otherof a number of receptacles on independent measuring devices, whichautomatically weigh the grain and actuate mechanism to register thenumber of bushels, &c., that are weighed thereon.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthe class named, which can be compactly folded for the purpose ofstorage or transportation, to provide an improved registering mechanismwhich shall be alternately actuated by the measuring devices or scales,so that one mechanism will serve to register the number of bushelsweighed by both of the scales, and to provide means whereby ready accessto the regulating-weight of the scale-beam can be had to adj ust thesame for weighing different quantities of grain, all as more fullydescribed.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate an automaticgrain-measuringapparatus embodying my invention, Figure l is a sideelevation adjusted for use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a topplan view, and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line a: x ofFig.3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus folded fortransportation or storage. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the registeringmechanism. Fig. 7 is a like view of the hopper, with its cut-off and themeans for actuating the same.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts Serial No. 205,713I N0 model.)

in all the figures, A designates the uprights of the frame for thesupport of the registering mechanism and the hopper, which are set at asuitable interval apart, and connected by the housing B for theregistering mechanism, and a platform, 0, at the upper extremities ofthe said uprights, on which the hopper D i located and supported.

The hopper D is provided with a flaring mouth, (I, and with inclinedpartitions (1, arranged at an angle to each other, and ashort distancefrom the outer walls or shell of the hopper, so as to provide dischargeor conducting passages e. These passages e diverge in 0ppositedirections, so as to conduct the grain into either one or the other oftwo dischargespouts, E, and the partitions that form the said passages ameet together to form an apex, e, that is located immediately beneaththe open mouth of the hopper.

A rock-shaft, F, is journaled in the walls of the hopper or in suitablebearings provided therefor and located at or above the apex of theinclined partitions, and this shaft carries a swinging cut-off, F, thatis rigidly secured on the same and is adapted to close the space thatleads from the hopper to either of the discharge-passages. To one end ofthis rockshaft is rigidly affixed a horizontal lever, f, that isarranged exteriorly to the hopper in the rear of the apparatus, and tothe ends of the said lever are pivotally connected the upper ends ofrods F Those connecting-rods are arranged in inclined positions andcross one another, and. the lower ends of the said rods have hooks oreyes f, so that they can be readily connected to and detached from thescale-beams of the weighing devices or scales, presently described.

The grain that passes down the passages e from the hopper D isdischarged through transverse openings 9, which are formed inthe sidewalls of the hopper, so that the grain can be readily passed into thedischarge-spouts E, which are suitably secured on the hopper at thelower ends thereof by means of cleats 9, that bear on or against alateral flange, of each of the said spouts, as will be readily seen.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of the registeringmechanism for recording the quantity of grain weighed by the scales.

H designates a rock-shaft that is located at or near the lower end ofand within the housing 13, and this shaft is journaled in the housing,or in suitable bearings provided therefor, and to the shaft is rigidlysecured an arm or red, H, which is arranged in a vertical position andextends upwardly from the shaft. The said rock-shaft also carries anoscillating beam, I, which is secured rigidly thereon, and is arrangedlongitudinally of the housing or transversely of the apparatus. To theouter free ends of this oscillating beam I are secured transverse pins'0', which are connected to the lower ends of the eonnectingrods F, andto links or pitmen Z of the scale-beam of the weighing devices, so thatwhen thescale-beams are alternately depressed the oscillating beam Iwill be actuated and move the registering devices and the cut-off todirect the grain flowing into the hopper from an elevator into one orthe other of the passages e.

To the upper end of the arm or rod H of the rock-shaft H is pivoted theinner ends of pawls J, which are inclined in opposite directions, andhave shoulders j on their upper surfaces at their free ends, againstwhich take the lower bent ends, 3', of detaining-arms J, also carried bythe arm H. The function of these detaining-arms is to prevent the pawlsfrom becoming displaced, and to keep the arms in their properrelativepositions for acting upon the peripheries of the toothed or gearwheels K and K, which are carried by suitable shafts or arbors that arejournaled in the housing or in bearings provided therefor.

The front wall of the casing of the apparatus is provided with segmentalviewing-openings k In, which are formed therein near opposite sides ofthe casing, and to the casing is affixed a segmental dial, 7:. (Shown inFig. 2 of the drawings.) This dial is preferably made or formed on aplate or disk separate from the casing and secured within the latter, orthe various numerals and indicating-marks can be indelibly stamped orinscribed upon the casing. The dial it is arranged in such proximity tothe viewing'opening k that only the edge thereof having the numerals andindicating-marks can be observed, and so as to leave a space to one sidethrough which one edge of the wheel K can be seen. This wheel K isarranged in rear of the front wall of the casing, to be wholly concealedthereby, except the edge of the same immediately in rear of theviewing-opening 7c. The dial it has the numerals 0, 2, at, 6, 8, and 10inscribed thereon, or it may have the ordinals from 0 to 9, inclusive,as may be preferred, and the wheel K has the ordinals from 0, 10, 20,30, and so on, to 90, inclusive, and suitable indicatingmarks arrangedequidistant around its edge or periphery. In practice theindicatingmarks and ordinals on the gear-wheel K are separated adistance equal to the terminal marks on the dial, so that as one mark onthe wheel disappears from View through the opening it the succeedingmarks and its accompanying numeral comes into view. For instance, whenthe apparatus is started, the gear-wheel K is first adjusted so that theindicatingmark opposite O thereon aligns with 0 on the dial 7;, and asthe wheel K is rotated by the action of the pawls and its fellow wheel Kthe mark 0 thereon successively passes numerals 2, 4, 6, &c., on thedial to indicate the number of bushels weighed. The continued rotationof the gear-wheel K causes the mark of 0 thereon to successively passthe several numerals on the dial, and as it disappears beyond theloweredge of the viewing-opening 7c the indicatingmark opposite the numeral10 on the wheel comes into view from above the upper edge of theviewing-opening. It will thus be seen that the gear-wheel K serves toindicate every ten bushels weighed and measured by the apparatus, theordinals thereon successively passing the numerals on the dial toindicate up to one hundred bushels, and the gear-wheel K is thenactuated to record the hundreds of bushels weighed, as will be presentlymore fully described.

The gear-wheels K K are of substantially the same diameter, and theteeth on the peripheries thereof mesh or gear together to cause bothwheels to revolve simultaneously in opposite directions. The wheels K Kare thus provided with a like number of teeth and make a completerevolution in the samespaee of time, and the gear-wheel K lies betweenthe wheels K and K" to actuate thelatter wheel. I will hereinafter termthe wheel K the tenswheel, the wheel K the intermediate wheel, and thewheel K the hundredswheel, the latter wheel having the numbers from to900 suitably inscribed or stamped thereon.

The intermediate wheel, K, of the registering mechanism, which mesheswith the tenswheel K, carries a pin, k which projects beyond itsperiphery, and is adapted to strike or impinge upon one of a series ofprojecting pins, k, that are rigidly affixed to the hundreds-wheel K" ofthe registering mechanism, said pins being affixed to the rear side ofthe wheel K" and projecting into the path of the arm K so as to be actedupon by the same.

The hundreds-wheel K is arranged out of line with the wheels K K. sothat the pins thereof project into the path of the arm K", and thefigures or numerals on the hundredswheel are impressed upon the frontface thereof, so that they can be readily seen through theviewingopening K, hereinbe'fore referred to, the hundreds-wheel beingarranged in rear of the opening K", so that only a portion of theperiphery thereof can be observed.

The wheels K and K are actuated alternately by the gravity-pawls on thevertical arm, and as the wheels are geared together the tenswheel K ismade to change its indication, whether the wheel K or K is actuated bythe said pawls. Both of the wheels are thus rotated continuous] y, butin opposite directions, although the pawls act thereon alternately,

position within the casing M.

and the hundredswheel K is made to change its indication at everycomplete revolution of theintermediate wheel, K, by the arm Ir of thelatter wheel acting on the pins 76" of the hundreds-wheel.

Ready access to the gear-wheels of the registering mechanism can be hadthrough an opening that is closed by a removable slide, L, that isretained in place by suitable cleats or ways.

M designates the scales or weighing mechanisms, two of which areprovided, and are alternately in use. The said scales have the usualplat-forms, 'm, which are provided with the battens m on their lowersides, and to these battens are connected the standards a, four of whichare provided for each of the platforms to support the same on theknife-edges of the scale-levers, and also elevate the platform out ofcontact with the casings M of the scales. These'casings are arranged inline with each other and project outwardly from the uprights A, or atright angles thereto, and each casing has a rearward extension, M, ofreduced diameter and size, which extends beneath the housing or case B,so that the scale-beams of the weighing mechanisms are concealed fromView and injury.

Each of the weighing mechanisms is provided with two platform-levers,which are arranged within and concealed from viewby the casings M, andthese levers are provided at their ends with depending plates 0, havingknife-edges which rest or bear on and are sup ported by blocks 0, thatare secured in proper The platformlevers N are connected by a link, a,and they are further provided with lateral or rightangled arms 0, to theouter ends of which are connected the lower ends of the standards a ofthe platforms, so that when the platform is borne downby the weightthereon the levers are oscillated. One of the levers N is furtherprovided with depending lugs 19, in which are secured the extremities ofa threaded shaft or rod, P, and on this shaft is adjustably fitted aregulating-weight, l?, and the other beam of each of the scales isprovided with the scalebeam Q, that is rigidly secured to and arrangedat right angles to the said oscillating lever, by which it is carried,thescale-beam being arranged in the reduced extension of the casing, sothat itis concealed from view thereby. The scale-beam has the link orpitman Z connected therewith, and the opposite end of thesaid link isdetachably and pivotal] y connected to one of the endsof the transversepin of the oscillating beam I of the registering mechanism.

A regulating-weight.Q, is fitted on the scalebeam of each of theweighing mechanisms, and this weight can be adjusted longitudinally onthe beam, and is held in place at any desired adjustment by means of abinding-screw, q, that worksina threaded openingin the weight, and readyaccess to the weight of the scalebeam can be had to adjust the weightthrough an opening in the reduced extension of the casing, which isclosed by a swinging or removable door, R.

For the purpose of readily and conveniently transporting the apparatusfrom place to place, and for storing it within a small compass when itis not in use, I pivotally connect the uprights A to the extensions ofthe casings M of the weighing mechanisms, so that the said uprights,together with the registering mechanism and the hopper carried thereby,can be folded down or over upon the weighing mechanisms. I preferablyemploy straps S, that are rigidly secured to the casing-extensions' bybolts or screws, and are pivotallyconnected at their opposite or upperends to the uprights A, as shown, and when the uprights are adjusted toa vertical position to adapt the apparatus for use they are held in suchposition by catches T, which preferably comprise pivoted hooks, that areadapted to be engaged with eyes or hooks.

The platforms of the weighing mechanisms are each provided withvertically-disposed standards or uprights U, which are arranged near therear edges of the platforms, and are provided at their upper ends withbag-holders i, which support the bag or other like receptacle in properposition to receive the grain from the discharge-spouts E of the hopper.The lower ends of the uprights U are pivoted in suitable bearings, u,that are secured on the platform, so that the uprights can be foldeddown against the platform when the apparatus is folded fortransportation or storage, and

when the standards are adjusted in their vertical positions for use theyare .held rigidly in place by means of catches V,which are pivoted onthe housing B of the uprights A, and are adapted to be detachablyconnected with eyes on the uprights U, as shown.

The operation of my invention is obvious. After the. apparatus has beenproperly adjusted for use by unfolding the uprights, together with theirhopper and the registering mechanism, and the uprights U with theirbag-holders,'the grain from an elevator that leads to'a thrashing-machine is discharged into the hopper D. The swinging cut-off F is ad justedto discharge the grain into one of the passages e,and prevent the escapeof said grain intotheotherpassage,thegrain passingthrough the properchannel and the escape opening into the discharge-spout E, from. whenceit passes into the receptacle supported on the platform of the weighingmechanism. After the proper quantity of grain has accumulated in thereceptacle on one ofthe platforms of one weighing mechanism, thatplatform is depressed to-actuate the platform-lever, and also thescale-beam, the free end of which scalebeam will be elevated against theaction of the regulating-weight thereon, to thus elevate, theoscillating beam of the registering mechanism and one of the pawlscarried by the arm of the beam, so that one of the gear-wheels, K or K,is moved or rotated a predetermined limited distance. Simultaneouslywith the oscillation of the beam of the registering mechanism theconnecting-rods F are operated to move or turn the rock-shaft of theswinging cutoff to adjust the latter to close the space between thepassage previously used and the hopper, and open the other unusedpassage, so that the grain from the thrashing-machine elevator will bedischarged from the hopper D into the said passage and discharge thegrain 011 the receptacle of one of the weighing mechanisms. Thisoperation of parts is repeated each time a given quantity of grain ismeasured and discharged, the weighing mechanisms being used alternatelyto automatically operate the registering devices and adjust the swingingcut-oft to discharge the grain alternately into the receptacles on theweighing mechanisms. The scales can be adapted to weigh grain ofdifferent heaviness by simply adjusting the regulating-weights in theproper directions.

The apparatus can be compactly folded for storage or transportation, andcan be quick] y adjusted for use.

Various slight changes in the form and proportion of parts and detailsof construction can be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of my invcntion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic grain weighing and registerin g machine, thecombination of a hopper having the independent diverging passages orchannels, the independent weighing mechanisms, the registering mechanismintermediate of the weighing mechanisms and the hopper, and having anoscillating beam connected with the weighing mechanismto be operatedalternately therewith, the dial-wheels, the vertical arm connected withthe beam, and the pawls carried by the vertical arm and engaging thedial-wheels to alternately operate the same, and a swinging cut-oftlocated in the hopper at the apex of the diverging channels thereof, andconnected with the oscillating beam of the registering mechanism,substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. Inan automatic grain weighing and registering machine, thecombination of a hopper having the diverging channels, the independentweighing mechanisms having the oscillating scale-beams, the swingingcut-off located at the apex of the diverging channels of the hopper andconnected with a lever, f, and the registering mechanism arrangedbetween the hopper and the weighing mechanisms, and having anoscillating beam connected at its extremities with the scale-beams ofthe weighing mechanisms to be alternately actuated thereby, and with thelever fof the cutoff to swing the latter in opposite directions at eachmovement of the scale-beams, substantially as described, for the purposeset forth.

3. In an automatic grain weighing and registering machine, thecombination of a hopper having the diverging channels, the dischargechutes projecting from the hopper at the extremities of the channelstherein, the swinging cut-off located in the hopper at the apex of thechannels thereof, the independent scales having the oscillating beams,the registering mechanism located between the hopper and the scales andhaving the rock'shaft, the beam carried thereby, the vertical arm havingthe pawls, and the dial-wheels actuated by the pawls, and the rodsconnecting the oscillating beams of the scales and the cut-off with theends of the registering mechanism, substantially as described, for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination of a rock-shaft, a horizontal oscillating beamcarried thereby, the vertical arm secured at its lower end to the shaft,the oppositely-inclined gravity-pawls pivoted at their inner ends to thevertical arm, the unit and intermediate wheels geared together andhaving the free ends of the gravity-pawls in engagement with the teethon their peripheries, and another index-wheel actuated by theintermediate wheel, substantially as described, for the purpose setforth.

5. The combination of the oscillating beam I, having thevertically-disposed arm or red, the independent gravity-pawls pivoted toand carried by the said arm or rod, the retainingarms having the bentends lying over the pawls at or near their free ends, the that wheels Kand K, having the toothed peripheries with which the free ends of thepawls are engaged, and a wheel, K having the .pins adapted to be struckby an arm carried by the wheel K at the end of every complete revolutionof the latter, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the hopper having a contracted mouth, and thediverging passages or channels formed by the inclined partitions, havingtheir apeXes arranged immediately beneath the center of the mouth of thehopper, a rock-shaft carrying a swinging cut-otl' to alternately directthe grain from the hopper into the dischargepassages thereof, andprovided with a lever arranged exteriorly to the hopper, the independentweighing mechanisms to receive the grain from the divergingdiscl'iarge-passages alternately, the registering mechanism having theoscillating beam con nected with and actuated alternately by theindependent Weighing mechanisms, and the connecting-rods intermediatethe oscillating beam of the registering mechanism and the lever of therockshai't, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the scales having the extensions, the uprightspivoted to the extensions and adapted to be folded upon the scales, thehopper carried by the uprights and having the cutoff, the registeringmechanism,also carried by the uprights and connected with the scales andthe cut-ofi' of the hopper, and the catches for retaining the uprightsand the registering mechanism and hopper carried thereby in their propervertical positions when IlO adjusted for use, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the weighing mechanisms having the foldableuprights carrying the supports for the bags or receptacles, the pivoteduprights supporting the registering mechanism and the. receiving-hopper,and catches for maintaining the uprights in their vertical positions,substantially as described.

9; The combination of the vertically-movable platform, theplatform-levers having the knife-edges and the lateral arms, thestandards intermediate of the arms of the levers and the

